Ivin Lafayette Gee

by Mary Ellen Kerr Gee

 

Ivin Lafayette Gee, son of William Erastus Gee and Mary Ellen Kerr Gee, was born in Rexburg, Idaho Dec 1st 1908.  Graduated from eighth grade of city schools May 1924.  Was scout patrol leader two years. Many merit badges.  Senior patrol leader one year.  Attended Madison High School 1924/5/6.  Took the part of John Faxton in school opera "PAUL REVERE," also Hugh Ingals in school play "THE GOOSE HANGS HIGH". Member of debating team. 

 

Won over Ashton and St. Anthony by decision of three judges, tied with Idaho Falls.  Was class president.  Took part in M.I.A. Play Dec. 1925.  Was president and teacher of teachers quorum 1925.  Attended Ricks Normal College High School 1926/7. 

 

Won first place in oration contest, represented Ricks in district meet in Pocatello, winning an honor "R".  Had a minor part in opera "THE BOHEMIAN GIRL".  Played the role of Dr. Owen Harding in Madison High School play "SMILIN' THROUGH".  Also had a part in first ward M.I.A. play.  Won in ward and stake M MEN'S oration, second in five stake district.  Sang in ward male chorus and M MEN quartet, the latter won first place in the stake. 

 

Attended a special scout school received a certificate.  Assistant scout master in ward 1926/7.  Was assistant sec'y, then secretary of Sunday School 1926/7.  Taught priesthood.  Worked for Ray Miller, bee man, summer 26/7.  Salary $90& $100 - unusual for that time.  Attended Ricks College 27/8 elected pres. of freshman class, also debating manager of college.  Won school oration, also M MEN'S in stake, won second place in five stake district.  Debated with Weber College-won - Albion-lost.  Received four honor awards from collegescholarship in high school dept. debate, oration, and student body officer.  Was valedictorian for Ricks High School graduating class.  Had a role in college plays "THE PATSY" and "STRENUOUS LIFE."

 

Also had a part in the opera "THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE".  Worked for R. Miller summer of 1929.  Went to park with summer school group.  Elected president of freshman college class-28/9.  Took part in play "THE DAUGHTER OF FOOLS" and opera "PINAFORE".  Received an "R" ring for debating. Worked for Miller.  Had lead in M.I.A. Contest play which won first place in stake meet, second in interstake. 

 

Won M MEN'S oration in stake, interstake and district.  Was one of the contestants in the church wide meet.  Spoke in tabernacle in june conference.  Attended U.I.S.B. 1929/30.  Was on debating team.  Was on honor roll.  Received teacher's certificate.  Took part in pocatello third ward M.I.A. play "THE HIGH HEART" which won first place in stake, interstake, district was also in church grand finals in Salt Lake City June 1930. Principal OF grade school in Edmunds 1930/1, $120.00.  Worked for Millersummer.  School Edmunds 31/2, $125.00.  Took part in M.I.A. play and M MENS oration.  Member of stake Sunday School board 1930-38.

 

Married Pearl Stucki May 25, 1932 in Salt Lake Temple, Joseph Fielding Smith officiating.  Mother and sister Stucki accompanied.  Attended summer school at Laramie, Wyo. 1932.  Helen, Pearl KEPT boarding House. Marion and Ivin attended college.  Ivin took part in college play. Taught in Edmunds 32/3.  Summer school six weeks 1934, son Lawrence born June 18, 1934.  Attended B.Y.U. Three quarters 34/35. 

 

Had lead in senior play "CHRISTOPHER BEAN".  Had a scholarship in physics dept. to pay tuition.  Graduated in June 1935 with B.S. Degreemajor in physics and education.  Lynn Received B.A. At same time.  Family all present. Worked for Superior Honey Company in Idaho Fallssummer 35.  Taught math and history in Madison High School in Rexburg 1935/6/7/8.  Second son Martell Joseph Born March 20, 1937 at Pocatello.  Third son Glendon William born June 3, 1938 at Rexburg.  Mastoid operation June 1937 at Pocatello.

 

Passed civil service examination in U.S. Weather Bureau.  Stationed at Missoula, Mont., Dec.1938.  Transferrd to Pocatello Mar. 1939.  First asst. Supt. Of Sunday School in third ward.  Member of stake Sunday School board.  Bought a four room home in Alameda.  Transferred to Cheyenne, Wyo. Aug.1941.  Transferred to Denver Feb., 1944. S.S. teacher, sec'y of seventies' quorum.  Appointed one of presidents of seventies quorum and scout committeeman.  Spent a week as supervisor at scout camp. 

 

Member of choir, stake missionary.  With parents visited Lynn and family in Lafayette Indiana, May 1948. Visited Nauvoo and Carthage en route home.  Sustained as second counselor to Denver first ward bishop Sept.26, 1948.  Ordained a high priest and set apart as counselor to bp. White Oct. 17, 1948 by Apostle Joseph F. Merrill-a great uncle.

 

Transferred to Lander, Wyoming Nov. 1948, as chief of the Weather Bureau.  Family came in Feb. 1949.  In April went by plane to Pocatello to attend a family reunion in honor of Merrill's recent return from  two and a half years in Germany as U.S. military judge and Vernon's leaving for Japan as doctor in U.S. Army.  Supt. of Sunday School-Lander. 

 

Member of Rotary Club.  Scout commissioner of district.  Made president of lander branch, July 2, 1950.  member of ministerial association.  Attended Ricks alumni reunion June 1950-family spent two weeks vacation in Idaho and Utah 1951.  Family reunion in Pocatello Sept. 2,1951 dinner at Merrill's home honoring Vernon and Barbara on their return from Japan and Korea.  Attended general conference Oct. 1952 with Pearl and sons.

 

August 23 four sons and wives (Vernon and Barbara in Rochester) gave a family dinner at Bannock Hotel honoring parents golden wedding (Sept 1902).  Presented them with gold rings and record player.  Was discussion leader in course, with films, "World Affairs Are Your Affairs" 1952/3 sponsored by M.I.A. for towns- people.  Good attendance. Father and mother visited in Lander July 1952.  Marion and Tony in 1951.  Lynn and family in 1949. 

 

Pearl chosen counselor in mission district 1952.  Took extension courses B.Y.U. and U.of U. certificate renewed.  Family dinner at Merrill's - farewell to Lynn and family before their return to College Station Texas.  Attended conferences. L. April 53.  Rotary convention Colorado Springs.  Appointed vice pres. And pres. Of club.  Pearl attended summer school at Ricks 1953. Took Martel, Glendon and three other young people to Cardston Temple, Alberta, Canada, summer 1953.  Spent two days in Pocatello Aug.15/16. Lynn was home also.

 

Lawrence graduated from two year course at Weber college with high honors.  Took one of leads in opera "MERRY WIDOW".  Was member of 112 piece orchestra for M.I.A. June conference program.  Called on a mission to East Germany.  Testimonial held in Lander.

Martel graduated from high school May 1954.  Had lead in senior play.

 

Pearl completed credits for degree at Ricks summer school.  We took "honey moon" trip to Canadavisited temple, visited parents-Lynn and family were home.

 

Glendon graduated from high school May 1955.  Received 4 yr. scholarship to U. of Wyo. As honor student, did not accept.  Awarded P.T.A. Scholarship to Ricks college, 1955/6, attended one year.